Scott County Substance Use Epidemiological Profile 2008 - Iowa ...

Scott County, Iowa
Substance Use
Epidemiological Profile
Iowa Epidemiological Outcome Workgroup
December 2007

Executive Summary
In 2006, the Iowa Department of Public Health received funding from the federal
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, for a State Epidemiological
Outcome Workgroup (Workgroup) to develop a state epidemiological profile. The
Workgroup included representatives from agencies directly involved with preventing
substance abuse in the state. In 2007 funding was continued; one of the deliverables was
to produce a community level epidemiological profile. The Workgroup defined
“community” as a county in Iowa. After a review of data, Scott County was one of the
counties selected for the community profiles.
The following criteria were developed during the writing of the 2006 Iowa
Epidemiological Profile, and were adapted to guide the data selection process for the
2007 Scott County Profile:
• Data available at the local (Scott County, Iowa) level;
• Sample covers age range;
• Data collected at least every two years;
• Measures directly related or strongly associated with ATOD use;
• Data pertain to consumption or consequence; and
• Data sets have adequate sample size.
Approximately forty indicators were included in the 2006 Iowa Epidemiological Profile,
most of which were also included in the Scott County Profile. Key indicator findings
include:
• Alcohol is the most cited substance of use by individuals entering substance abuse
treatment in Scott County.
• More than two-thirds of Scott County adults consumed alcohol in the past month,
which is significantly higher than the Iowa and national rates.
• The adult binge drinking rate in Scott County is similar to the state rate; both of
which are significantly higher than the national rate.
• Among youth, the Scott County rate of current alcohol use is similar to the state
rate.
• While there is a downward trend in alcohol use by youth over the last few years,
more than 15 percent of all students surveyed in 2005 reported using alcohol
before turning 13. For every five 11 th -graders in Scott County, two drank alcohol
within the past month.
• The rate of convictions for alcohol-related offenses in Scott County is about onethird
the state rate.
• There were 426 Operating While Intoxicated arrests per 100,000 Iowans in
2005, the highest rate in three years.
• The average rate of alcohol-related suspensions and expulsions in Scott County
was similar to the state rate. The average rate of drug-related suspensions and
expulsions was approximately 35 percent higher than the state average.
i

• Juvenile adjudications due to alcohol are on the rise in Scott County, more than
doubling from 2004 to 2006. The rate of juvenile adjudications due to alcohol in
Scott County is similar to the state rate for fiscal year 2006.
• Approximately 800,000 Iowans over the age of 12 use tobacco, the majority of
which is cigarette use.
• The reported rate of mothers using tobacco during pregnancy in Scott County has
been between 18-22 percent of all pregnancies since 2002, which is about 3
percent higher than the state rate.
• Youth tobacco use in Scott County appears to be on the decline, as evidenced by
the number of youth reporting first use of cigarettes before the age of 13, past 30-
day use, and perceived risk of cigarette use. However, these rates are higher in
Scott County than in Iowa.
• More than 200 tobacco compliance checks were completed each fiscal year in
Scott County, with an average compliance rate of 86 percent from FY02-FY07.
The success rate in Scott County is similar to the statewide success rate of tobacco
compliance checks.
• Marijuana use by 6 th -, 8 th -, and 11 th -graders is significantly higher in Scott
County than across the state.
• The rate of juvenile adjudications due to illicit drugs in Scott County is similar to
the state rate.
Regardless of substance, most consumption indicators for Scott County are higher
than for Iowa or the nation, but a similar effect is not evident in most consequence
indicators. Scott County’s geographical position, bordering Illinois, may influence
consumption and consequence data, and may account for the observed difference
between consumption and consequence data.
ii

Table of Contents
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... i
Table of Contents .........................................................................................................................iii
Table of Figures............................................................................................................................ iv
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................vi
Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1
Background ................................................................................................................................... 1
Results ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Alcohol.........................................................................................................................................3
Adult Consumption Patterns....................................................................................................4
Youth Consumption Patterns .................................................................................................11
Alcohol Consequences...........................................................................................................17
Tobacco......................................................................................................................................24
Adult Consumption Patterns..................................................................................................24
Youth Consumption Patterns .................................................................................................27
Tobacco Consequences..........................................................................................................32
Illicit Drugs ...............................................................................................................................33
Adult Consumption Patterns..................................................................................................33
Youth Consumption Patterns .................................................................................................34
Illicit Drug Consequences......................................................................................................38
Discussion..................................................................................................................................... 41
General Comments....................................................................................................................41
Consumption Patterns of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs in Scott County, Iowa..........41
Alcohol...................................................................................................................................41
Tobacco..................................................................................................................................42
Illicit Drugs ............................................................................................................................42
Consequences of Substance Abuse in Scott County, Iowa......................................................42
Alcohol...................................................................................................................................42
Tobacco..................................................................................................................................42
Illicit Drugs ............................................................................................................................43
Conclusions ...............................................................................................................................43
Appendices................................................................................................................................... 44
Appendix 1................................................................................................................................45
Appendix 2................................................................................................................................47
Appendix 3................................................................................................................................48
iii

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment.................... 3
Figure 2: Per Capita Alcohol Gallon Sales......................................................................... 5
Figure 3: Alcohol Use in Past 30 Days............................................................................... 6
Figure 4: Percent of Adults Binge Drinking in Past Month ............................................... 7
Figure 5: Percent of Adults Heavy Drinking in Past Month............................................... 8
Figure 6: Percent of Adults Reporting Having Driven After Having Perhaps Too Much
To Drink in the Past Month ........................................................................................ 9
Figure 7: Alcohol as Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment 10
Figure 8: Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that Reported Alcohol Use during
Pregnancy – All Ages ............................................................................................... 10
Figure 9: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Alcohol before Age
13............................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 10: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Use of Alcohol 13
Figure 11: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Binge Drinking – Past 30 Days
................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 12: Percent of 11 th -Graders Reporting Driving after Using Any Amount of
Alcohol or Other Drugs ............................................................................................ 15
Figure 13: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Alcohol Use as a Moderate or
Great Risk ................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 14: Rate of Drunkenness and Liquor Law Arrests per 100,000............................ 19
Figure 15: Rate of Convictions for Alcohol-Related Offenses......................................... 19
Figure 16: Rate of Operating While Intoxicated Arrests per 100,000 People.................. 20
Figure 17: School Suspensions and Expulsions per 100,000 Students – Total Due to
Alcohol or Drugs....................................................................................................... 21
Figure 18: School Suspensions and Expulsions per 100,000 Students Due to Alcohol or
Drugs......................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 19: Juvenile Adjudications due to Alcohol ........................................................... 23
Figure 20: Alcoholic Cirrhosis Deaths per 100,000 ......................................................... 23
Figure 21: Suicides per 100,000 ....................................................................................... 24
Figure 22: Percent of Adults Who Are Current Smokers................................................ 25
Figure 23: Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that Reported Tobacco Use during
Pregnancy – All Ages ............................................................................................... 26
Figure 24: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Cigarettes before
Age 13....................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 25: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Cigarette Use .. 29
Figure 26: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Cigarette Use as a Moderate
or Great Risk............................................................................................................. 30
Figure 27: Tobacco Compliance Check – Percent Compliant.......................................... 31
Figure 28: Lung Cancer Deaths per 100,000.................................................................... 32
Figure 29: Marijuana, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine as Primary Substance of Use as
Reported upon Entry into Treatment ........................................................................ 33
Figure 30: Heroin and Other Opiates/Synthetics as Primary Substance of Use as Reported
upon Entry into Treatment........................................................................................ 34
Figure 31: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Marijuana Use. 36
iv

Figure 32: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Marijuana Use as a Moderate
or Great Risk............................................................................................................. 37
Figure 33: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Marijuana before
Age 13....................................................................................................................... 38
Figure 34: Juvenile Adjudications due to Illicit Drugs..................................................... 39
Figure 35: Percent of Confirmed or Founded Child Abuse Cases Involving the Presence
of Illegal Drugs in a Child’s Body............................................................................ 40
Figure 36: Number of Confirmed or Founded Child Abuse Cases Involving
Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the Presence of a Minor ................................ 40
v

List of Tables
Table 1: Percent of Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Alcohol Use by Gender ......... 16
Table 2: Alcohol Involvement in Domestic Abuse Incidents........................................... 24
Table 3: Percent of Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Cigarette Use by Gender ....... 30
Table 4: Percent of Youth Reporting Current Drug Use - 2005....................................... 35
Table 5: Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Marijuana Use by Gender....................... 37
vi

Introduction
Scott County is geographically nestled in the bend of the Mississippi River and is situated
in the southeastern corner of Iowa. It encompasses both a major urban center and rural
areas, with the population majority urban and the land agricultural. Davenport and
Bettendorf, Iowa join Moline and Rock Island, Illinois to form the Quad Cities; a large
metropolitan area with a population of 360,000. Towns such as Buffalo, Eldridge,
Princeton, Pleasant Valley, Park View, LeClaire, and McCausland each with a population
less than 5,000, serve as hubs for the rural areas. Scott County is geographically situated
midway between Minneapolis on the north and St. Louis on the south, Chicago on the
east and Des Moines on the west, and is bisected by U.S. Interstate 80. Scott County’s
population is 158,668 according to the 2000 Census. Estimates based on the 2000 U.S.
Census predict that approximately 46,000 young people (ages 19 and under) lived in
Scott County in 2006, which comprised about 28 percent of the total population (versus
26% statewide).
Background
In 2006, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) received funding from the federal
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, for a State Epidemiological
Outcome Workgroup (SEOW). IDPH’s Division of Behavioral Health is the Single State
Authority for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment. IDPH administers the funding
and activities of the SEOW. The first year of the SEOW process involved forming an
epidemiological team to assess, analyze, interpret, and communicate data about Iowa
substance consumption patterns and consequences. The two major products resulting
from the first year of the SEOW were the state epidemiological profile (State Profile) and
plans for a system to accommodate the ongoing collection of data for monitoring
prevention outcomes. The State Profile and a shorter version of Key Findings can be
found on the IDPH Web site www.idph.state.ia.us. In the second year of the project, the
group was charged with developing a community level epidemiological profile. The
Workgroup defined “community” as a county in Iowa. After a review of data, Hardin and
Scott counties were selected for the county profiles.
The following criteria were developed during the writing of the 2006 Iowa
Epidemiological Profile, and were adapted to guide the data selection process for the
Scott County Profile:
• Data available at the local (Scott County, Iowa) level;
• Sample covers age range;
• Data collected at least every two years;
• Measures directly related or strongly associated with ATOD use;
• Data pertain to consumption or consequence; and
• Data sets have adequate sample size.
1

Additional criteria were applied where similar indicators existed:
• Historical data available;
• Data available at the national level;
• Limited redundancy between indicators (some redundancy is acceptable); and
• Closeness to consequence (where applicable).
SEOW staff met with Scott County representatives on October 26, 2007 in Davenport.
Seventeen people representing the following sectors of the county attended the meeting:
law enforcement, treatment and prevention, healthcare, juvenile court services, education,
religious organizations, and social services. The meeting was organized by the Center for
Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc. An overview of the State Profile was presented, along
with sample figures for the Scott County Profile. Feedback about data used, alternative
data sources, and profile format was offered by the attendees and has been incorporated
in the profile whenever applicable. The same group members were included in the
profile review process.
2

Results
Alcohol
Alcohol is the substance most frequently used by adults and youth in Scott County,
across Iowa, and across the United States. Alcohol is the most cited substance of use by
individuals from Scott County on admission to substance abuse treatment services,
reinforcing alcohol as the primary substance of use in Scott County. Cocaine and
marijuana are the next most cited substances (Figure 1). These data only reflect the
primary substance at admission so additional substance use is not reported.
Figure 1: Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment
1400
Per Capita Treatment Admissions
Per 100,000 People 15 and Older
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Alcohol 1097.6 1229.4 1079.7 1030.8 1154.0 1008.6 976.1
Cocaine 234.5 237.2 327.6 330.8 409.5 415.4 437.9
Marijuana 311.9 403.6 356.4 333.2 415.1 385.5 376.6
Heroin 41.9 40.2 40.0 58.3 68.3 33.0 36.6
Other Opiates/Synthetics 19.3 34.6 24.8 22.4 49.2 31.5 40.6
Methamphetamine 8.1 20.9 28.0 32.8 31.7 36.2 17.5
.
Source: Substance Abuse Reporting System (SARS)
3

Adult Consumption Patterns
Alcohol sales in Scott County (measured as per capita gallon sales) have grown from 2.1
gallons in fiscal year 2003 to 2.5 gallons in fiscal year 2006, which mirrors an increase in
alcohol sales for Iowa. Scott County alcohol sales are approximately one-third higher
than the state rate (Figure 2). This may be due in part to the fact that there are
differences in alcohol taxes between Illinois and Iowa – taxes on wine are lower in
Illinois whereas taxes on beer are lower in Iowa, the tax rate on hard liquor in Iowa is not
readily available. So alcohol users may cross into or out of Scott County to purchase and
consume alcohol.
In 2006, more than two-thirds of adults in Scott County had consumed alcohol in the past
month as reported in the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Past 30-
day alcohol use by adults in Scott County is significantly higher than the state and
national rates (Figure 3). Gender and age group differences were not assessed due to
inadequate sample size at the county level.
Binge drinking, defined by BRFSS as consumption of five or more drinks on one
occasion, is significantly higher in Scott County and in Iowa, than in the United States.
Nearly 25 percent of the adults in Scott County engage in binge drinking according to the
2006 BRFSS (Figure 4). Heavy drinking is defined in the BRFSS as the consumption of
more than 2 drinks per day by adult men and more than one drink per day by adult
women. There was no real difference between the heavy drinking rate for adults in Scott
County, Iowa, and the U.S. (Figure 5). There was also no real difference between the
self-reported drinking and driving rate for adults in Scott County, Iowa, and the U.S.
(Figure 6). It should be noted that many participants in the BRFSS refused to answer the
question about drinking and driving.
The per capita rate of people receiving treatment who reported alcohol as their primary
substance of abuse is much higher than the rate for the state as a whole (Figure 7). These
data only reflect the primary substance of choice at admission, so additional substance
use is not reported.
Women who use alcohol during pregnancy increase the risk of adverse health effects for
their babies. In Scott County, 0.7 percent of pregnant women who gave birth in 2006
reported they used alcohol. Since 2000, the percent of pregnant women who reported
alcohol use during pregnancy in Scott County has tended to be higher than the percent for
the state, but was similar in 2006 (Figure 8). This information was collected and reported
on birth certificates. This reporting method does not include women who did not have
live births because of termination of pregnancy. As a result, the real effect of alcohol on
pregnancies cannot be estimated. Some mothers may hesitate to report using alcohol
while pregnant because of potential legal or social ramifications, making alcohol usage
underreported.
4

Figure 2: Per Capita Alcohol Gallon Sales
4.0
3.5
Per Capita Alcohol Gallon Sales
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
2003 2004 2005 2006
Alcohol Sales - Iowa 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Alcohol Sales - Scott 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.5
Fiscal Year
Source: State of Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division
5

Figure 3: Percent of Adults Using Alcohol in Past 30 Days
75
Percent of Adults 18 or Older
70
65
60
55
50
45
2003 2004 2005 2006
Scott County 63.3 65.1 54.6 67.5
Iowa 60.0 56.9 55.5 56.4
U.S. 55.7 53.9 53.4 51.8
Year
Source: BRFSS
Note: Confidence intervals allow comparison of Scott County results to Iowa and U.S. results.
6

Figure 4: Percent of Adults Binge Drinking in Past Month
35
Percent of Adults 18 or Older
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2003 2004 2005 2006
Scott County 17.9 20.9 19.6 23.6
Iowa 19.3 18.8 18.4 20.0
U.S. 15.6 14.6 14.1 14.5
Year
Source: BRFSS
Note: Confidence intervals allow comparison of Scott County results to Iowa and U.S. results.
7

Figure 5: Percent of Adults Heavy Drinking in Past Month
35
Percent of Adults 18 or Older
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2003 2004 2005 2006
Scott County 9.9 9.0 6.6 5.7
Iowa 5.9 5.5 5.5 5.5
U.S. 5.6 5.0 5.0 4.8
Year
Source: BRFSS
Note: Confidence intervals allow comparison of Scott County results to Iowa and U.S. results.
8

Figure 6: Percent of Adults Reporting Having Driven After Having Perhaps Too Much
To Drink in the Past Month
20
Percent of Adults 18 or Older
16
12
8
4
0
2002 2004 2006
Scott County 7.8 1.5 8.7
Iowa 6.9 5.5 8.1
U.S. 4.2 3.8 5.0
Year
Source: BRFSS
Note: Confidence intervals allow comparison of Scott County results to Iowa and U.S. results.
9

Figure 7: Alcohol as Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment
1400
Per Capita Treatment Admissions
Per 100,000 People 15 and Older
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Alcohol - Iowa 604.5 657.1 605.1 570.4 599.2 595.7 607.6
Alcohol - Scott 1097.6 1229.4 1079.7 1030.8 1154.0 1008.6 976.1
Year
Source: SARS
Figure 8: Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that Reported Alcohol Use during
Pregnancy – All Ages
Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that
Reported Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
10
8
6
4
2
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Births - Iowa 1.4 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6
Births - Scott 4.3 3.7 0.9 0.9 1.6 1.3 0.7
Source: Vital Records
10

Youth Consumption Patterns
The Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) is a triennial census assessment of Iowa’s 6 th -, 8 th -, and
11 th -grade students’ attitudes toward substance use and actual usage. The IYS was last
completed in 2005 by a total of 5,463 students from all public school districts in Scott
County and 98,246 Iowa students from 390 school districts. Iowa Youth Survey data are
reported at the state and county levels, as well as several other sub-state levels. The IYS
is used to report youth consumption patterns in this profile because it is much more
reflective of Iowa and individual counties in Iowa than the national surveys, which
represent Iowa with very small sample sizes, collapse data from multiple years to
generate reports, or use data from “similar” states to generate Iowa reports, and do not
produce county-level results.
The reported rate of alcohol use before age 13 has fallen from 1999 to 2005 in Iowa and
in Scott County (Figure 9). However, over 15 percent of all students surveyed in 2005
reported using alcohol before turning 13. Scott County rates of alcohol use before the
age of 13 are similar to the state rate. Past 30-day use of alcohol has also fallen for each
grade reported in the IYS since 1999 in Iowa and Scott County (Figure 10). The
downward trend is positive, but the overall number of youth reporting past 30-day use is
still alarming. Eleventh graders in Scott County report a higher rate of past 30-day
alcohol use than 11 th graders across Iowa. For every five 11 th graders in Scott County,
two drank alcohol in the past month.
Binge drinking by 6 th , 8 th , and 11 th graders over the past 30 days as reported on the IYS
has decreased since 1999 in both Scott County and Iowa (Figure 11). Both 8 th and 11 th
graders in Scott County reported higher counts of binge drinking than the state totals.
Iowa reports a significantly higher binge drinking rate among youth than the national
rate. According to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 14.08
percent of 12-to 17-year-old Iowans versus 10.86 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds
nationally had at least one episode of binge drinking in the past 30 days. So Scott County
teenagers, who report higher drinking rates than Iowa teenagers, are also more likely to
binge drink than teenagers from across the country.
The IYS asks youth if they drove a motor vehicle after using any amount of alcohol or
other drugs in the past 30 days. The reported percent encompasses youth who reported
driving whether or not they had a legal driver’s license. IYS data do not differentiate
between types of substances or between consumption levels of drug use. Scott County
11 th graders reported similar results between 1999 and 2005, and the 2005 rate is similar
to the state rate (Figure 12). Approximately 14 percent of Scott County youth place their
lives at risk by driving after using alcohol or other drugs.
The IYS perceived risk of alcohol use question reads as follows: “How much do you
think you risk harming yourself if you drink 3 or more drinks of alcohol nearly every
day?” The majority of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -graders in Scott County and in Iowa feel there is
great or moderate risk associated with drinking a considerable amount of alcohol on a
regular basis (Figure 13). The Scott County rates are lower than their state counterparts,
11

suggesting that Scott County teenagers feel that drinking is less of a risk. Female
respondents perceived greater risk of alcohol use than males (Table 1). In comparison to
state rates, Scott County females perceived less risk of alcohol use than females across
the state, whereas Scott County males perceived more risk of alcohol use than males
across the state.
Figure 9: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Alcohol before
Age 13
40
35
30
25
Percent
20
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 19 19 14
Grade 11 - Scott 21 19 16
Grade 8 - Iowa 29 25 20
Grade 8 - Scott 35 32 18
Grade 6 - Iowa 19 16 13
Grade 6 - Scott 21 15 16
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
12

Figure 10: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Use of Alcohol
60
55
50
45
40
Percent
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 49 44 41
Grade 11 - Scott 48 47 44
Grade 8 - Iowa 22 18 14
Grade 8 - Scott 28 25 14
Grade 6 - Iowa 7 6 4
Grade 6 - Scott 8 5 4
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
13

Figure 11: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Binge Drinking – Past 30
Days
60
55
50
45
40
Percent
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 40 36 32
Grade 11 - Scott 39 38 35
Grade 8 - Iowa 14 12 8
Grade 8 - Scott 19 16 9
Grade 6 - Iowa 3 3 2
Grade 6 - Scott 5 3 2
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
14

Figure 12: Percent of 11 th -Graders Reporting Driving after Using Any Amount of
Alcohol or Other Drugs
30
25
Percent
20
15
10
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 18 15 14
Grade 11 - Scott 15 14 14
Year
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
15

Figure 13: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Alcohol Use as a Moderate or
Great Risk
85
80
75
Percent
70
65
60
55
50
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 71 69 73
Grade 11 - Scott 69 68 72
Grade 8 - Iowa 76 76 79
Grade 8 - Scott 73 73 79
Grade 6 - Iowa 77 78 78
Grade 6 - Scott 77 76 75
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
Table 1: Percent of Youth Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Alcohol Use by Gender
Year
Gender 1999 2002 2005
Iowa Males 67 69 71
Scott County Males 70 71 74
Iowa Females 77 76 79
Scott County Females 76 74 77
Source: IYS
16

Alcohol Consequences
The number of liquor law arrests in Scott County has decreased from 2003 to 2005; the
number of drunkenness arrests has increased by approximately the same number as liquor
law arrests have fallen. The liquor law arrest and drunkenness arrest rates in Scott
County have consistently been lower than the Iowa rates (Figure 14). Drunkenness is
defined as, “To drink alcoholic beverages to the extent that one’s mental faculties and
physical coordination are substantially impaired.” Drunkenness does not include driving
under the influence offenses. A liquor law violation is defined as, “The violation of laws
or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, or
use of alcoholic beverages.” Liquor law violations do not include driving under the
influence or drunkenness offenses.
Scott County has a rate of convictions for alcohol-related offenses about one-third the
rate for the state of Iowa. This difference holds true for total alcohol-related convictions,
total consumption convictions, and alcohol sales and providing alcohol to minors
convictions. This difference may be due to the fact that Scott County is a border county,
so some offenses may be occurring in Illinois. It also may be influenced by enforcement
or prosecution differences between Scott County and the state as a whole. The rate of
convictions for alcohol-related offenses in Scott County and across Iowa remained
relatively stable between 2003 and 2005, with an uptick in 2006. This uptick may be due
to a 2006 change in the Iowa Code, with underage drinking becoming a scheduled
violation (similar to a speeding ticket) rather than a simple misdemeanor (Figure 15).
There were 685 Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) arrests in Scott County in 2005,
corresponding to a rate of 426 OWI arrests per 100,000 Scott County residents, the
highest rate since 2002 (Figure 16). The terms OWI and DUI (Driving Under the
Influence) are often used interchangeably. Jurisdictions across the country use one term
or the other. The definition of DUI found in the FBI Uniform Crime Reports is, “Driving
or operating a motor vehicle or common carrier while mentally or physically impaired as
the result of consuming an alcoholic beverage or using a drug or narcotic.” In Iowa, the
method used to assess impairment is to test the blood alcohol content (BAC). As of July
1, 2003, the “legal limit” in Iowa is .08 BAC, lowered from .10 BAC. The change in the
legal BAC limit may be responsible for the notable increase in the OWI arrest rate per
100,000 Scott County residents from 2003 to 2005. Other possible reasons for the
increase could be improved law enforcement or zero tolerance policies toward motor
vehicle related alcohol offenses.
More than 26,000 youth were enrolled in Scott County public schools for the 2005-2006
and 2006-2007 school years (Project EASIER). The alcohol or drug related expulsion
and suspension rate for Scott County was higher than the Iowa rate in both the 2005-2006
and 2006-2007 school years (Figure 17). The average rate of alcohol-related suspensions
and expulsions in Scott County was similar to the state rate. The average rate of drugrelated
suspensions and expulsions was approximately 35 percent higher than the state
average (Figure 18).
17

Juvenile adjudications due to alcohol are on the rise in Scott County, more than doubling
from 2004 to 2006, whereas the state rate is trending downward. The rate of alcoholrelated
juvenile adjudications in Scott County is similar to the state rate for fiscal year
2006 (Figure 19).
An average of five Scott County deaths per year are caused by alcoholic cirrhosis
(International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 code K70), for a death rate similar to
the state rate, hovering around 3 per 100,000 from 2003-2006 (Figure 20). This rate is
quite low compared with the lung cancer death rate of approximately 59 per 100,000
Scott County residents from 2003-2006. Alcoholic cirrhosis is not manifested for
decades after excessive drinking. Today’s alcohol usage might not be reflected in
alcoholic cirrhosis death rates for 20 or more years, making it difficult to use the rates to
implement and evaluate policies and practices that impact alcoholic cirrhosis.
A recent study found that, of suicide victims who were tested for alcohol or drugs,
approximately 33.3 percent were positive for alcohol and 16.4 percent were positive for
opiates (Centers 2006). The number of suicides in Scott County remained steady from
2000-2006, averaging approximately 19 suicides per year during that period. The suicide
rate per 100,000 people for Scott County and Iowa were similar (Figure 21).
The number of Scott County domestic violence cases where alcohol was present has
remained stable from 2003-2005 (Table 2). The number of domestic violence cases with
alcohol involvement averaged 16 percent of the total number of domestic violence cases,
which is similar to the state average.
18

Figure 14: Rate of Drunkenness and Liquor Law Arrests per 100,000
Rate Per 100,000 People
675
600
525
450
375
300
225
150
Liquor Law Arrests - Iowa 449.9 386.8 374.0
Liquor Law Arrests -
Scott
Drunkenness Arrests -
Iowa
Drunkenness Arrests -
Scott
2003 2004 2005
429.8 348.2 335.9
269.6 307.6 299.9
164.5 198.6 227.0
Year
Source: Incident Based Uniform Crime Reporting System
Figure 15: Rate of Convictions for Alcohol-Related Offenses
800
Convictions Per 100,000
Population
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Total Alcohol-Related
Convictions - Iowa
Total Alcohol-Related
Convictions - Scott
2003 2004 2005 2006
611 592 599 668
204 176 235 256
Source: Iowa Court Information System, Justice Data Warehouse
19

Figure 16: Rate of Operating While Intoxicated Arrests per 100,000 People
600
550
Rate Per 100,000 People
500
450
400
350
300
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
OWI Arrests - Iowa 458.3 428.7 465.5 445.8 492.7 490.8
OWI Arrests - Scott 452.6 427.8 425.2 350.3 374.3 426.0
Year
Source: Incident Based Uniform Crime Reporting System
Note: As of July 1, 2003, the “legal limit” in Iowa is .08 BAC, lowered from .10 BAC.
20

Figure 17: School Suspensions and Expulsions per 100,000 Students – Total Due to
Alcohol or Drugs
600
Substance Related Suspensions and
Expulsions Per 100,000 Students
500
400
300
200
100
0
2005-2006 2006-2007 Average
Total - Iowa 291.6 360.3 326.0
Total - Scott 496.3 420.6 458.5
School Year
Source: Project EASIER
21

Figure 18: School Suspensions and Expulsions per 100,000 Students Due to Alcohol or
Drugs
Suspensions and Expulsions .
Per 100,000 Students
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2005-2006 2006-2007 Average
Alcohol - Iowa 94.6 127.0 110.8
Alcohol - Scott 170.5 83.4 126.9
Drug - Iowa 208.1 251.0 230.6
Drug - Scott 325.8 337.3 313.9
School Year
Source: Project EASIER
22

Figure 19: Juvenile Adjudications due to Alcohol
300
Rate Per 100,000 Youth Ages 10-17
250
200
150
100
50
0
Alcohol Adjudications -
Iowa
Alcohol Adjudications -
Scott
FY2004 FY2005 FY2006
114.7 118.8 98.1
51.3 77.0 128.3
Source: Iowa Court Information System, Justice Data Warehouse
Figure 20: Alcoholic Cirrhosis Deaths per 100,000
12
Rate Per 100,000 Population
10
8
6
4
2
Alcohol Cirrhosis Deaths
- Iowa
Alcohol Cirrhosis Deaths
- Scott
0
2003 2004 2005 2006
3.94 3.49 4.48 3.69
3.77 1.25 3.72 3.10
Year
Source: Vital Records
23

Figure 21: Suicides per 100,000
30
Suicides Per 100,000 Population
25
20
15
10
5
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Total - Iowa 9.8 10.4 10.7 12.0 11.5 11.3 11.2
Total - Scott 14.5 10.7 12.6 10.7 11.2 9.9 16.6
Year
Source: Vital Records
Table 2: Alcohol Involvement in Domestic Abuse Incidents
2003 2004 2005
Number of Cases - Iowa 1,219 1,230 1,191
Number of Cases - Scott 177 182 191
Percent of Total Cases - Iowa 15 18 16
Percent of Total Cases - Scott 15 16 17
Source: Incident Based Uniform Crime Reporting System
Tobacco
Adult Consumption Patterns
Scott County, state, and national rates of current cigarette use did not differ significantly,
nor is there significant difference from 2003-2006 in Scott County rates (Figure 22).
The rate of Scott County mothers reporting tobacco use during pregnancy has been stable
since 2002, hovering between 18-22 percent of all pregnancies. The Scott County rate of
tobacco use during pregnancy has been consistently higher than the state rate, averaging 3
percent higher per year (Figure 23). This information was collected and reported on birth
24

certificates, and does not include women who did not have live births. This reporting
method may under-report tobacco usage, since mothers may hesitate to report using
tobacco while pregnant due to potential legal or social ramifications. The rate of tobacco
use during pregnancy is approximately 20 times higher than the rate of alcohol use.
Figure 22: Percent of Adults Who Are Current Smokers
35
Percent of Adults 18 or Older
30
25
20
15
10
2003 2004 2005 2006
Scott County 23.3 22.9 22.5 19.0
Iowa 21.6 20.8 20.3 21.3
U.S. 22.1 20.7 20.4 19.5
Year
Source: BRFSS
Note: Confidence intervals allow comparison of Scott County results to Iowa and U.S. results.
25

Figure 23: Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that Reported Tobacco Use during
Pregnancy – All Ages
Percent of Women Who Had Live Births that
Reported Tobacco Use During Pregnancy
25
20
15
10
5
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Births - Iowa 17.2 17.4 16.5 15.7 16.1 16.2 15.9
Births - Scott 21.9 20.7 18.9 19.8 18.3 19.4 18.8
Source: Vital Records
26

Youth Consumption Patterns
Youth tobacco use in Scott County appears to be on the decline, as evidenced by the
number of youth reporting first use of cigarettes before age 13 and past 30-day cigarette
use.
The percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -graders who first used cigarettes before age 13 has
decreased each time the IYS has been administered since 1999. However, the percent of
11 th graders reporting the use of cigarettes before the age of 13 in Scott County is higher
than the state rate (Figure 24). Reported past 30-day cigarette use for the same
populations has also decreased on each IYS, with the exception that 29 percent of 11 th
graders reported cigarette use in both 2002 and 2005. Scott County youth report higher
rates of past 30-day cigarette use in comparison to the state rates, with the largest
difference being 8 percent for 11 th graders (Figure 25). Sixth, 8 th- , and 11 th -grade
students responded similarly when asked, “How much do you think you risk harming
yourself if you smoke cigarettes every day?” “Great Risk” and “Moderate Risk”
response options were combined for Figure 26. As with measurements of use, responses
to the perceived risk question show that Scott County youth are more likely to use
cigarettes than the state rates. Perceived risk of cigarette use does not appear to differ by
gender among middle- and high-school youth, although Scott County males and females
respond that it is less risky to smoke cigarettes than their statewide counterparts (Table
3).
Tobacco compliance check data are compiled by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
In the last three fiscal years, there were no significant differences between Scott County
and state tobacco compliance check data (Figure 27). More than 200 tobacco compliance
checks were completed each fiscal year in Scott County, with an average compliance rate
of 86 percent from FY02-FY07.
27

Figure 24: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Cigarettes before
Age 13
30
25
20
Percent
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 22 18 14
Grade 11 - Scott 23 20 16
Grade 8 - Iowa 21 14 10
Grade 8 - Scott 28 19 10
Grade 6 - Iowa 8 5 3
Grade 6 - Scott 9 5 3
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
28

Figure 25: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Cigarette Use
40
35
30
25
Percent
20
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 33 23 21
Grade 11 - Scott 39 29 29
Grade 8 - Iowa 13 9 7
Grade 8 - Scott 21 13 8
Grade 6 - Iowa 3 2 2
Grade 6 - Scott 6 3 2
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
29

Figure 26: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Cigarette Use as a Moderate
or Great Risk
90
85
Percent
80
75
70
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 81 84 85
Grade 11 - Scott 79 82 83
Grade 8 - Iowa 82 84 85
Grade 8 - Scott 80 81 84
Grade 6 - Iowa 82 84 83
Grade 6 - Scott 81 80 79
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
Table 3: Percent of Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Cigarette Use by Gender
Year
Gender 1999 2002 2005
Iowa Males 80 82 83
Scott County Males 79 80 81
Iowa Females 83 85 85
Scott County Females 81 82 83
Source: IYS
30

Figure 27: Tobacco Compliance Check – Percent Compliant
100
Percent Compliant
96
92
88
84
80
Tobacco Compliance
Checks - Iowa
Tobacco Compliance
Checks - Scott
FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07
88 89 89 90 88 89
89 84 82 87 86 87
Fiscal Year
Source: Alcohol Beverages Division
31

Tobacco Consequences
There is a lack of tobacco consequence data in Scott County, as well as for the state of
Iowa. Lung cancer death rate is the only indicator that met all requirements for inclusion
in the profile. The lung cancer death rate has decreased slightly from 2003 to 2006 in
both Scott County and Iowa, with the Scott County rate tending to be lower than the state
rate (Figure 28).
Figure 28: Lung Cancer Deaths per 100,000
130
Rate Per 100,000 Population
115
100
85
70
55
40
Lung Cancer Deaths -
Iowa
Lung Cancer Deaths -
Scott
2003 2004 2005 2006
64.17 65.48 66.03 61.10
62.13 59.34 62.67 53.36
Year
Source: Vital Records
32

Illicit Drugs
National datasets suggest that illicit drug use in Iowa appears to be holding steady, and its
prevalence is lower than the national total. Cocaine, marijuana, heroin, other
opiates/synthetics, and methamphetamine follow alcohol as the most cited substances of
use by individuals from Scott County on admission to substance abuse treatment services
(Figure 1).
Adult Consumption Patterns
The per capita rate of people receiving treatment who reported marijuana or cocaine as
their primary substance of use is higher for Scott County than the state rate as a whole;
whereas the rate for methamphetamine is lower in Scott County than in Iowa (Figure 29).
The rate of people entering treatment who reported cocaine as their primary substance of
use has increased over the past three years for Scott County. The per capita rate of
people receiving treatment who reported heroin or other opiates/synthetics as their
primary substance of use is higher for Scott County than the state rate as a whole (Figure
30). These data only reflect the primary substance at admission, so additional substance
use is not reported.
Figure 29: Marijuana, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine as Primary Substance of Use as
Reported upon Entry into Treatment
Source: SARS
Per Capita Treatment Admissions
Per 100,000 People 15 and Older
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Marijuana - Iowa 246.3 285.0 279.8 279.7 290.4 297.7 307.7
Marijuana - Scott 311.9 403.6 356.4 333.2 415.1 385.5 376.6
Cocaine - Iowa 68.8 73.6 71.6 79.5 85.1 84.5 95.3
Cocaine - Scott 234.5 237.2 327.6 330.8 409.5 415.4 437.9
Methamphetamine - Iowa 152.6 201.4 222.8 239.3 254.9 265.1 197.7
Methamphetamine - Scott 8.1 20.9 28.0 32.8 31.7 36.2 17.5
Year
33

Figure 30: Heroin and Other Opiates/Synthetics as Primary Substance of Use as
Reported upon Entry into Treatment
Per Capita Treatment Admissions
Per 100,000 People 15 and Older .
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Heroin - Iowa 9.8 10.5 11.5 10.4 11.4 8.4 8.1
Heroin - Scott 41.9 40.2 40.0 58.3 68.3 33.0 36.6
Other Opiates/Synthetics
- Iowa
Other Opiates/Synthetics
- Scott
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
7.3 11.9 16.4 12.9 19.6 18.6 21.0
19.3 34.6 24.8 22.4 49.2 31.5 40.6
Source: SARS
Youth Consumption Patterns
The 2003-2004 NSDUH estimated that 21,000 Iowans 12-17 years old used illicit drugs
including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and prescription
psychotherapeutics in a month. This estimate includes 16,000 12-to 17-year-old
marijuana users. The 2005 IYS shows that marijuana was the most widely used illicit
drug in Scott County, with 20 percent of 11 th -graders reporting current use (Table 4).
Marijuana use by 6 th- , 8 th , and 11 th -graders in Scott County has decreased significantly
between 1999 and 2005. However, Scott County students report a significantly higher
rate of marijuana use than their contemporaries across the state (Figure 31).
The IYS asks the question, “How much do you think you risk harming yourself if you
smoke marijuana once a week?” Seventy-five percent of 6 th –graders, 77 percent of 8 th -
graders, and 52 percent of 11 th -graders responded “Great Risk” or “Moderate Risk” to
this question in Scott County in 2005. The Scott County results were significantly lower
than the state rates for perceived risk of marijuana use (Figure 32). Female students were
about 4 percent more likely to respond “Great Risk” or “Moderate Risk” than male
students in 2005. The difference in both Scott County males and females in comparison
to the statewide male and female responses is significant (Table 5). The percent of
students reporting first use of marijuana before age 13 decreased for all three grades
34

etween 1999 and 2005, but these rates are higher than the state rates for the same grades
(Figure 33).
Table 4: Percent of Youth Reporting Current Drug Use – 2005
Grade
Substance Type 6 - Iowa 6 - Scott 8 - Iowa 8 - Scott 11 - Iowa 11 - Scott
Marijuana 0 1 3 5 13 20
Inhalants 2 2 3 3 2 3
Amphetamines 0 0 1 1 3 4
Cocaine 0 0 1 1 2 3
Methamphetamines 0 0 1 1 2 2
Steroids 0 0 0 0 1 2
Source: IYS, p. 86
Note: Boldfaced county values are higher than the corresponding state values.
35

Figure 31: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting Past 30-Day Marijuana Use
25
20
Percent
15
10
5
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 17 15 13
Grade 11 - Scott 25 22 20
Grade 8 - Iowa 6 5 3
Grade 8 - Scott 11 8 5
Grade 6 - Iowa 1 1 0
Grade 6 - Scott 2 1 1
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
36

Figure 32: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Perceiving Marijuana Use as a Moderate
or Great Risk
85
80
75
Percent
70
65
60
55
50
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 70 65 70
Grade 11 - Scott 60 56 52
Grade 8 - Iowa 80 79 80
Grade 8 - Scott 75 72 77
Grade 6 - Iowa 80 81 80
Grade 6 - Scott 79 77 75
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
Table 5: Perceived Moderate or Great Risk of Marijuana Use by Gender
Year
Gender 1999 2002 2005
Iowa Males 73 72 74
Scott County Males 69 66 70
Iowa Females 79 77 79
Scott County Females 74 71 73
Source: IYS
37

Figure 33: Percent of 6 th- , 8 th- , and 11 th -Graders Reporting First Use of Marijuana before
Age 13
15
12
Percent
9
6
3
0
1999 2002 2005
Grade 11 - Iowa 6 7 6
Grade 11 - Scott 12 11 9
Grade 8 - Iowa 6 6 5
Grade 8 - Scott 13 9 6
Grade 6 - Iowa 1 1 0
Grade 6 - Scott 3 2 1
Source: IYS
Note: Error bars are too small to represent and are less than +/- 1%.
Illicit Drug Consequences
The rate of juvenile adjudications due to illicit drugs in Scott County is similar to the
state rate (Figure 34). In fiscal year 2006, there were 46 juvenile adjudications in Scott
County for illicit drugs.
The percent of confirmed or founded child abuse cases involving the presence of illegal
drugs in a child’s body, out of all confirmed or founded child abuse cases, has risen in
Scott County since 2003, but remains lower than the state rate (Figure 35). The number
of confirmed or founded child abuse cases involving manufacturing methamphetamine in
the presence of a minor has been virtually nonexistent in Scott County since the end of
2002, with only 4 cases from 2003-2006 (Figure 36). Many circumstances besides a
38

change in the use of illegal substances could influence these numbers, including funding
for law enforcement and the Department of Human Services, detection technology
advances, changes in the Iowa code, and public awareness and pressure. The enactment
in May of 2005 of the Iowa Pseudoephedrine Control Act, which required selling
pseudoephedrine products from behind the counter rather than on store shelves, probably
helped to decrease the number child abuse cases involving manufacturing
methamphetamine in the presence of a minor.
These numbers included each confirmed type of abuse on each report of abuse for each
child. Each child may be confirmed to have suffered multiple types of abuse on a single
report, and each child may have multiple reports. Presence of an illegal drug is defined
as the presence of an illegal drug in a child’s body as a direct and foreseeable
consequence of the acts or omissions of the person responsible for the child’s care.
Illegal drugs used in this definition include cocaine, heroin, amphetamine,
methamphetamine, marijuana, other illegal drugs, or combinations or derivatives of
illegal drugs not prescribed by a health practitioner. Manufacturing methamphetamine in
the presence of a minor is defined in Iowa Code 232.2 subsection 6, paragraph p. It
occurs when the person responsible for the care of a child manufactures a dangerous
substance or has possession of the methamphetamine precursors, ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine, with the intent to use the product as a precursor or intermediary to a
dangerous substance in the presence of a child.
Figure 34: Juvenile Adjudications due to Illicit Drugs
300
Rate Per 100,000 Youth Ages 10-17
250
200
150
100
50
Illicit Drug Adjudications
- Iowa
Illicit Drug Adjudications
- Scott
0
FY2004 FY2005 FY2006
187.1 173.7 168.4
169.3 102.6 236.0
Source: Iowa Court Information System, Justice Data Warehouse
39

Figure 35: Percent of Confirmed or Founded Child Abuse Cases Involving the Presence
of Illegal Drugs in a Child’s Body
Percent of Confirmed or Founded Child
Abuse Cases Involving the Presence
of Illegal Drugs in a Child's Body
15
12
9
6
3
0
Presence of Illegal
Drugs - Iowa
Presence of Illegal
Drugs - Scott
CY 2003 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006
8.33 9.64 8.30 7.25
1.86 3.41 5.83 4.60
Year
Source: Iowa Department of Human Services
Figure 36: Number of Confirmed or Founded Child Abuse Cases Involving
Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the Presence of a Minor
Confirm ed or Founded Child Abuse Cases
500
400
300
200
100
Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the
Presence of a Minor - Iowa
Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the
Presence of a Minor - Scott
0
CY 2003 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006
400 299 128 107
2 0 2 0
Calendar Year
Source: Iowa Department of Human Services
Note: The Iowa Pseudoephedrine Control Act took effect in May 2005. This Act required that pseudoephedrine products be
sold from behind the counter.
40

Discussion
General Comments
Scott County is unique in that it is one of the few counties in Iowa that includes both a
major urban center and rural areas. Scott County encompasses the Iowa side of the Quad
Cities; Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa, along with Moline and Rock Island, Illinois.
Scott County straddles Interstate 80, midway between Chicago and Des Moines.
According to the U.S. Census, Scott County’s population was almost 159,000 in 2000.
Estimates based on the 2000 U.S. Census predict that approximately 46,000 young
people (ages 19 and under) lived in Scott County in 2006.
The burden of substance abuse, as demonstrated by the consequences data presented in
this report, is staggering both financially and in human suffering. The consumption data
are disturbing in that Scott County is similar to Iowa when it comes to binge-drinking
rates, which are higher than national rates, and higher than state rates for alcohol and
illicit drug use. It is in the best interest of all citizens of Iowa to reduce the burden of
substance abuse and dependence.
Scott County is a border county with close ties to the Illinois Quad-Cities which makes it
more difficult to interpret data and to assess substance use. Both consumption and
consequence data may be skewed, as Scott County residents may travel into Illinois to
purchase and consume alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. The reverse may be true as well
– Illinois residents may travel into Iowa to purchase and consume alcohol, tobacco, or
illicit drugs. Extra caution should be used when reviewing substance use data as it may
include Illinois residents’ consumption and consequences in Scott County or may exclude
Scott County residents’ consumption and consequences in Illinois. Indicators that are
more likely to be affected by this include, in order as they appear in this profile: per
capita alcohol gallon sales, drunkenness and liquor law arrests, convictions for alcoholrelated
offenses, OWI arrests, juvenile adjudications due to alcohol, suicides, alcohol
involvement in domestic abuse incidents, and juvenile adjudications due to illicit drugs.
Consumption Patterns of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs in Scott County, Iowa
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most widely used substance among youth and adults in Scott County.
Adult alcohol use in Scott County has increased over the past couple of years, as
evidenced by past 30-day alcohol use. Binge drinking rates in Scott County and across
Iowa are significantly higher than the national rate. Heavy drinking and driving after
drinking rates in Scott County are similar to both the state and national rates.
Underage drinking is a critical issue in Scott County. Underage drinking rates in Scott
County are very similar to state rates. The 2005 IYS showed that 44 percent of Scott
County 11 th -graders drank alcohol and 35 percent binge drank in the past month. The
41

social culture in many of Iowa’s rural areas and college towns accepts underage drinking
as a rite of passage that is part of life activities in small communities. Many community
events and activities center on or include drinking alcohol, glorification of drinking, and
may even promote underage drinking. Many parents view underage drinking as normal
for teenagers. Additionally, some parents provide alcohol to youth in their homes.
Tobacco
Adult tobacco use in Scott County is similar to the state and national rates, and was level
from 2003 to 2006. Approximately 800,000 Iowans over age 12 use tobacco. Rates of
smoking during pregnancy have been steady at about 19 percent, higher than the state
rate by 2-4 percent each year from 2000-2006. The percent of Scott County 11 th -graders
reporting past 30-day cigarette use is higher than the state rate (29% vs. 21%).
Illicit Drugs
Illicit drug use in Scott County appears to be higher than illicit drug use in Iowa. The per
capita rate of people receiving treatment who reported marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or
other opiates/synthetics as their primary substance of use is higher for Scott County than
the state rate as a whole; whereas the rate for methamphetamine is lower in Scott County
than in Iowa. Marijuana use by 6 th- , 8 th , and 11 th -graders in Scott County has decreased
significantly between 1999 and 2005, but remains higher than the state rate.
Consequences of Substance Abuse in Scott County, Iowa
Alcohol
The consequences of alcohol use in Iowa are severe and multi-faceted. They include:
loss of life and injury; lost wages and loss of employment; increased insurance rates and
hospitalization charges; costs associated with the legal system; incarceration; and
property damage. Because of the higher level of alcohol consumption compared with
tobacco or illicit drugs, the adverse consequences of alcohol use may outweigh those
associated with tobacco or illicit drugs.
While alcohol use in Scott County appears higher than in Iowa in general, measured
alcohol consequences are lower. Legal ramifications of alcohol use in Scott County are
lower than in Iowa, including drunkenness and liquor law arrests, convictions for alcoholrelated
offenses, OWI rate, and juvenile adjudications. Alcohol-related school
suspensions or expulsions are lower in Scott County than across Iowa. The alcoholic
cirrhosis death rate in Scott County is similar to the state rate.
Tobacco
There is a lack of quality tobacco consequence data for both Scott County and for the
state of Iowa as a whole. The lung cancer death rate has remained steady in Scott County
for the past four years, and is similar to the state rate. In addition to smoking, lung cancer
42

may be caused by exposure to environmental toxins, a particular concern for a rural state
with a large farming industry.
Illicit Drugs
Although the consumption of illicit drugs in Scott County appears to be higher than
across Iowa in general, most indices of illicit drug consequences in Scott County are
similar to or lower than state rates. The rate of juvenile adjudications due to illicit drugs
and the percent of confirmed or founded child abuse cases involving the presence of
illegal drugs in a child’s body, out of all confirmed or founded child abuse cases, in Scott
County is similar to the respective state rates. The number of confirmed or founded child
abuse cases involving manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a minor has
been virtually nonexistent in Scott County since the end of 2002. This may be due, in
part, to the fact that Scott is one of the more urban counties in Iowa. Drug-related school
suspensions or expulsions is the only drug consequence indicator that is higher in Scott
County than across Iowa.
Conclusions
• Scott County has a binge drinking problem; adult and youth binge drinking rates
are higher in Scott County and in the state than nationally. However, the rates of
most alcohol consequences are lower in Scott County than in Iowa.
• Cigarette use in Scott County appears to be higher than in Iowa.
• Illicit drug use in Scott County appears to be higher than in Iowa, but measured
illicit drug consequences are similar or lower in Scott County.
• Most national datasets are not useful for counties in Iowa, due to insufficient
sample sizes.
• The Iowa Youth Survey was a particularly useful tool in assessing youth
substance use in Scott County, and provides for the comparison of data between
various local measurement areas and across the state.
• A couple of indicators used in the 2006 Iowa Epidemiological Profile were not
available at the county-level because of insufficient numbers and confidentiality
regulations.
• Data collected at the county level are difficult to assess for a variety of reasons,
including a lack of historical data, unclear or inconsistent collecting and reporting
procedures, and small sample sizes or incidence rates.
43

Appendices
44

Alcohol Consumption:
Appendix 1
Indicators Included in Scott County Profile
• 30-Day Alcohol Use (both adult and youth)
• Age of First Use of Alcohol
• Binge Drinking (both adult and youth)
• Heavy Drinking (adult)
• 30-Day Driving After Drinking Alcohol (both adult and youth)
• Women Reporting the Use of Alcohol During Pregnancy
• Perception of Risk (youth)
• Alcohol as Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment
Tobacco Consumption:
• Current Cigarette Use (adult)
• 30-Day Use of Cigarette Use (youth)
• Age of First Use of Cigarettes
• Women reporting the Use of Cigarettes During Pregnancy
• Perception of Risk (youth)
• Tobacco Compliance Checks
Illicit Drug Consumption:
• 30-Day Marijuana Use (youth)
• 30-Day Illicit Drug Use
• Age of First Use of Marijuana
• Perception of Risk (youth)
• Primary Substance of Use as Reported upon Entry into Treatment
Alcohol Consequences:
• Alcoholic Cirrhosis Deaths
• Suicides
• Alcohol-Related Domestic Violence Arrests
• Liquor Law Arrests
• Drunkenness
• DUI Rates
• Alcohol-Related Convictions
• Juvenile Adjudications for Alcohol
45

Tobacco Consequences:
• Lung Cancer Deaths
Illicit Drug Consequences:
• Presence of Illegal Drugs in Confirmed or Founded Child Abuse Cases
• Manufacturing Methamphetamine in the Presence of a Minor
• Juvenile Adjudications for Illegal Drugs
Other Indicators:
• ATOD-Related Expulsions and Suspensions
• School Enrollment
46

Appendix 2
Indicators Included in Iowa Epidemiological Profile but not in Scott County Profile
These indicators were not included in the Scott County Profile for a number of reasons.
Some indicators were not collected at the county level, others had insufficient sample
sizes, and others were suppressed to protect confidentiality.
Alcohol Consumption:
• Perception of Risk (adult)
Tobacco Consumption:
• 30-Day Use of Other Tobacco Products
• Heavy Smoking (youth)
• Perception of Risk (adult)
Illicit Drug Consumption:
• 30-Day Marijuana Use (adult)
• 30-Day Any Illicit Drug Use Other Than Marijuana
• Perception of Risk (adult)
Alcohol Consequences:
• Alcohol Dependence or Abuse
• Alcohol-Involved Drivers Among All Drivers in Fatal Crashes
Illicit Drug Consequences:
• New AIDS Cases and Annual HIV/AIDS Rates Due to Drug Use
• Illicit Drug Dependence or Abuse
• Drug Possession Arrests
Other Indicators:
• School Attendance
47

Appendix 3
Data Sources
Data Sources
BRFSS (Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System) -
http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm
Certified Annual Report – Iowa Department of Education, Certified Annual Report
(School attendance data)
Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division – http://www.iowaabd.com/tobacco/index.jsp
Iowa Court Information System, Justice Data Warehouse
Iowa Department of Public Safety, Incident Based Uniform Crime Reporting System
http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/ucr/index.shtml
Iowa Vital Records
Iowa Youth Survey -
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/cjjp/iys/YouthSurvey/ythsurvey.html
Project EASIER – Iowa Department of Education, Project EASIER Fall Enrollment File
Project EASIER – Iowa Department of Education, Project EASIER Spring Suspension
and Expulsion File
SARS - Kantzavelos, A., Barber, K., & Arndt, S. (2006). Outcomes Monitoring System,
Iowa Project: Year Eight Report (Iowa Department of Public Health, Contract No.
5885NA01). Iowa City, IA: Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and
Evaluation. http://iconsortium.subst-abuse.uiowa.edu/
Suicides -
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/common/pdf/health_statistics/2004/vital_stats_2004.pdf
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